Improvement in wagon-axles



G. S. GARTH & W. ELDER.

I WAGON-AXLE. No.176,743. Patented ma 2,1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. GARTH AND WILSON ELDER, OF MILL HALL, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WAGON-AXLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [76,743, datedMay 2, 1876; application filed March 23, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE SUTTON GARTH and WILSON ELDER, of Mill Hall,.in the county of Clinton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thimble-Skeins, Axles, 850.; and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and t0 the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement in thimble-skeins, axles, 850.; and the invention consists in theeombination of a channeled axle or thimble-skein, a peculiarlyconstructedwasher fitting thereupon, and a key for locking them together, as hereinafter The difficulty experienced in keeping or confining the washers properly to the axle or thiinble-skein is well known to the users of wagons, &c., the constant liability of the ordinary key or nut tojolt out of place permitting the washer and wheel to slip off the axle or skein. To prevent this class of accidents, and at the same time provide a means that will be equally applicable to retaining the wheels of vehicles of all kinds (as well as thimble-skeins) in a durathimble-skein,into which are formed channels a it. Over this end is placed a washer, B. This washer has castor otherwise formed upon it two lugs, b b, and a third, lug, c. This last-mentioned lag is placed in such position. as to leave channels or ways (1 d. Between it and the lugs b b, and onto the washer B, arecast projections e e, forming suitable bearings for the key hereinafter mentioned. The washer B being placed as above stated, or over the end A of the axle or thimble-skein, a bifurcated or U-shaped key, 0, is passed between the lugs b on the washer, and through the channels a a of the axle A, in this way keying or holding the washer and axle or thii'nble-skein together, the lugs on the washer and the channels in the end of'the axle forming a complete hearing or key-seat for the key, the projections 68 affording proper bearing-surface on which the key rests. This key is not only U-shaped, but it is curved, as shownin Fig. 3, so that, as the keyis inserted, it not only has a certain amount of elasticity, which will retain it in position in the channels and lugs, but its curvature,when thekey is in p osition,causesit to bind or tightly tit between the end of the axle and the washer, preventing lateral play and wear.

To insure the keys not jolting out, a projection,f, may be cast or otherwise formed on the upper side of the washer B, against which the. upper or curved end of the key G comes in contact; or ears f f may be formed on the upper ends of the lugs b b, (see Fig. 4,) which will serve also to keep the key in place in the washer when it is removed.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified form of axle or skein, which consists in making lateral flanges on it for engagement with the key.

It is apparent from the foregoing description of the construction and operation of our improved axle and thimble-skein that by their use a wheel may be confined to its proper position 011 the axle or skein with certainty, and in a manner that will not increase but lessen the cost of construction.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to seizure by Letters Patent, is-

- The combination of the channeled axle or thimble-skein A, the washer B, havinga curved face and lugs, 1) cf, channels cl, and [)XOJQGUOIIS e, and the curved spring-key 0, all constructed to interlock, substantially as described.

GEQRGE. SUTTON GARTH. WILSON ELDER. Witnesses: i

' JAMES STIVER,

ABBOTT B. GARTH. 

